Methyl iodide's use in state challenged by suit

Environmentalists and farmworkers challenged approval of a toxic fumigant and carcinogen for use on California crops Monday and urged Gov. Jerry Brown to reverse the decision.

This 11th-hour decision flies in the face of unprecedented scientific consensus and community opposition," said Kathryn Gilje, executive director of Pesticide Action Network North America, which, along with the other plaintiffs, submitted 52,000 comments urging Brown to halt the use of methyl iodide. "This chemical is just too dangerous to use in California."